Texture generating apparatus for dynamic interference checking

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus, system, and method for performing interference checking of the design in a project, component or part thereof to a designer, engineer, team of designers, or a team of engineers. In one embodiment, the present invention is comprised of a texture generating apparatus adapted to provide proximity analysis of objects in a design by dynamically generating a texture visually indicative of the spatial relationship between the modeled objects. In this embodiment, the texture generating apparatus is further comprised of a processing element. The processing element is adapted to perform the calculations of the interference check. The texture generating apparatus is further comprising a texture generating element. The texture generating element is adapted to provide the texture on which the interference check is based. The texture generating apparatus is further comprised a rendering element. The rendering element is adapted to provide the rendering of the texture onto the object in a design.

1 . A texture generating apparatus, configured in a CAD (computer aided design) adapted computer graphic system, adapted to provide proximity analysis of objects in a design by generating, manipulating and applying a texture visually indicating the spatial relationship between the modeled objects, the texture generating apparatus comprising: 
 a) a processing portion adapted to perform calculations of the proximity analysis;    b) a texture coordinates generator portion coupled to said processing portion adapted to provide coordinates relating the texture to be rendered onto the objects in the design; and    c) a rendering portion coupled to said texture coordinates generator adapted to provide renderability of the texture onto the objects in the design.    
   
   
       2 . The texture generating apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the processing portion is adapted to operate independently of, but in conjunction with, the CAD adapted computer graphic system.  
   
   
       3 . The texture generating apparatus of  claim 1  wherein objects in a design are comprising a first object and a second object.  
   
   
       4 . The texture generating apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the first object is a component of a design and the second object is a defined plane.  
   
   
       5 . The texture of generating apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the first object is a defined plane and the second object is a component of a design.  
   
   
       6 . The texture generating apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the plane is a defined boundary for the component with respect to the design.  
   
   
       7 . The texture generating apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the texture generator is adapted to access a proximity value characterizing a spatial relationship between objects in a design.  
   
   
       8 - 12 . (canceled)  
   
   
       13 . A CAD (computer aided design) adapted computer graphic system configured to enable a user to perform proximity analysis of objects in a design, wherein the proximity analysis is texture based, the computer graphic system comprising: 
 a) a display device for providing a visible display of said performed texture based proximity analysis;    b) a data input device coupled to enabling said user to enter data related to the objects in a design;    c) a processor and a memory device operably coupled to said data input device for processing of said data;    d) a data storage unit operably coupled to said data input device and said display device for storing data related to the objects in a design; and    e) a texture generating apparatus operably coupled to said data storage unit for generating said texture of said texture based proximity analysis.    
   
   
       14 . The computer graphic system of  claim 13  wherein said texture of said texture based proximity analysis is user definable.  
   
   
       15 . The computer graphic system of  claim 13  wherein said texture of said texture based proximity analysis is user scaleable.  
   
   
       16 . The computer graphic system of  claim 13  wherein said first object is comprising a component of a design, said component of a design relative to said second object.  
   
   
       17 . The computer graphic system of  claim 13  wherein said second object is comprising a defined plane, said plane comprising any of the six orthogonal planes relative to the first object.  
   
   
       18 . The computer graphic system of  claim 13  wherein the first object is comprising a defined plane, said plane comprising any of the six orthogonal planes defined as a boundary with regard to the second object.  
   
   
       19 . The computer graphic system of  claim 13  wherein said second object is comprising a component of a design, said component of a design is relative to said first object.  
   
   
       20 - 25 . (canceled)